Breach-mat



y1. n. HEWETT.

BRE/TCH MAT.

APPLCATON F|LED MAYZ, 1918. l ,3415,77 l m Patented July 1920., 4

3 SHEETS-SHEET l. FTQ. I. 2 /7 2 '27' 32 Inventor: Jon R. I-ewe-tt, bg f T His DGL-,termed I. II. HEWETT.

BR'EACH MAT.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAY27, I9I8.

Fig. 3.

Patented July 6, 1920.

s SHI-:EIs-SIIEEI 2.

Inventor.

R'. Hem/et' His Y'ttorneg.

J. R. HEWETT.

BREACH MAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1918.

Patented July 69 1920 3 SHEEIS-SHEET 3.

Ivervtor: Jol) F2. Hewetjc,

NUITED STATES PATENT otros.

l renin n; HEWETT, or serieusement?, new YORK.

ralenti.

`To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HEWETT, a subject oi the King of Great Britain, residing at Schenectady, 'in the county of Schenectady, State oi' New York, have invented certain `:new and useful Improvements in `LBreach-Mats, of which the following is a specilication. v 1 y My `invention relates `to a breach mat for covering holes in the hulls oi ships caused by torpedoes, mines, shells, or collisions with other vessels.`

The object of myinvention is to provide a breach mat which will be suhciently reintorced to Aprevent its being forced into the hole by the enormous pressure of water, and which, although normally stowed compactly away, maybe readily moved to the portion of the ship `where the hole has been made and quickly placed in position over the hole without diiiiculty or interference by the inrushing water. 1My. breach mat is so `arranged that it may be readily tied to the side of a vessel, so that even if the pressure on bothsides of the mat is balanced, it will remain in its proper position.

The various features of `novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and toi-ming a part of this specification.

`lfor a better understanding oi my invention reference may be had to the following description taken` in` connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation oi my breach mat in its rolled or fielded upposition; Fig. Cis a rearview olf` the mat, with parts removed andother parts partiallyunfolded; `Figs. 3 and 4: are 1views similar;` to Fig. f1 with parts `further unfolded, Fig. 3 having certain partsbroken awamliig. shows the mat completely unfolded; Fig. G is a section of a ship with` mat applied thereto; Fig. 7 `1s a view partly in `section of a detail; Fig. 8 is a bottom view oil? the detail oAFig. 7 5 andFig. 9 is a View olf another detail.

`Referring to the drawings, my breach mat comprises beams 1 which are normally held in a horizontal position but maybe released so` as to more into a vertical position and a sheet member 2 which is normally folded or `rolled up but maybe `unrolledover the beams `1. The beams 1` are pivotedto `a member` 3 which also supports the sheet .nuunber The sheet member 2 ismade of Specification oi Letters Patent.

the` groups of beams together.

ratenteu auiyc, ieee...

i i Application filed May 27, 1918'. Serial No. 236,913.

canvas, tarpaulin or the like and is provided. with horizontal reinforcing members d, Y

Referring more in detail to the construction illustrated, the `member 3 is shown as forming part of a carriage 37, mounted for movement along the side `of a vessel by means or' wheels 6 which run on rails 7 mounted on the side of the vessel. Since the beams 1 and the sheet member 2 are both supported on this member, and the member 3 `is connected to the carriage 37 by links 38, the whole operative part of my mat is pivotally mounted about the rail 7 and when unfolded can swing about this rail as, its axis.

The beams 1 are shown as being arranged in groups, the beams in each group being linked together by flexible links 8. The beams of adjacent groups when folded up extend in opposite directions from their pivots as clearly shown in dotted `lines in Fig. 2. They are held in their folded-up position by means oi catches9 whichare released by members 10 operated by arope 11 and windlass `12, the members 10 are pressed forward into the latched position by springs 13. In order to ease the motion of the beams after they are released, cables la, having one of their ends attached to each of the groups of beams and the other end attached to a retarding` device such as one member of a dash-pot 15, are provided. rope or cable `16 is provided for tying the groups of beams `together after they have been moved into a vertical position. This rope or cable is op erated by means of the `windlass 17. The cable goes down through a pipe 18 in the `innermost beam of one of the groups oi `in this beam and is fastened to the end of this `latter beam. This construction is most clearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. By this arrangement the cable 16 Vis continually maintained under tension as it moves to tie The sheet member 2 is supported from the mem ber `3 by means of links 20 and is held in its rolled up position by means of ropes or cables `21, oneend of each of which is fastened to the member 3 and the other end is wound around each of windlasses 22. The windlasses 22 are actuated by a shaft 23, gearing 24 and a shaft 25. The sheet member 2 is unrolled by means of ropes or cables 26 and a windlass 27 as will be eX- plained more fully hereinafter. The sheet member maybe tied to the beams 1 by means of the ropes or cables 26.. These ropes or cables 26 have one end tied to the sheet member 2, and when the mat is rolled up, goes around the sheet member, then down through collapsible links or collapsible tubes in certain ot the beams. VThese ropes are illustratedY in the drawing `as going down the outer beams of the groups, then up these Vsame beams through a pipe and then about the windlass 27. V The construction of these outer beams is similar to that described above in connection with the path of the rope 16 and as illustrated in Figs. 7 and S. By this arrangement the ropes or cables 26 are continually maintained under tension as they move to unroll the sheet member and to tie it to the beams. Thesheet member, when completely unrolled, extends below the ends .of the beams 1 andA may be vfastened to the side of the vessel by means of chains 2S going completely about the hull. These chains are attachedtothe sheet member by means of ropes orcables 29. The ropes or cables '29A may -be fastened to the. mat by means of collapsible links 30 so that when the sheet member .is rolled up, these cables will be so supported that they will not become entangled with any part of the mat. The reinforcing members 4 are suitably fastened `in the sheet member 2 and extend throughout the length ot the mat. lI have illustrated one such member 4 in full and the adjacent one in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The end portions of the sheet member are constructed so that they bend inwardly toward the side of the vessel as the matV unrolls. I have illustrated one way of accomplishing this, which consists in making each of the reinforcing members 4 in a number of sections, the end sections being joined together .by spring hinges 31 which torce the end section of the reinforcing members 4 and consequently the end portions of the sheet member inwardly toward the side ot' the vessel.

Each of the windlasses 12, 17 and 27 and the shaft 25 may be operated by an electric motor 32 through a shaft and gearing as shown in Fig. 9, each of the windlasses 12 and 17 and the shaft 25 being provided with a clutch for connecting them to the shafting when it is desired to turn the same. The windlasses 12, 17 and 27, the electric motor 32 and the shafts 23 and 25 are mounted on the carriage 37. The mat, as a whole, may be moved along the rails 7 by an'electric motor (not shown) as is usual in cranes and the like, and may be held in any desiredposition by a suitable brake as ordinarily provided on such cranes. The mat may be stowed in position on the side of the vessel and held against movement by chains about the same. These chains have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. Vhen the mat is stowed away, it also can be covered by tarpaulin. These chains and the tarpaulin can be readily dropped from around the mat by a suitable releasingdevice when it is desired to put the mat in operation.

The operation of my breach mat is as follows: Then a hole is'torn in the side ot a vessel due to a collision, mine, torpedo. or

the like, the chains and the covering holding the same against the side of the ship are dropped from around the breach mat and the same is then moved along the rails 7 in its folded-up condition to a position directly over the place where the hole has been iliade. The windlass 12 is clutched to the shaft driven by the motor 32 and thus turned to move the members 10 and thereby release the catches 9, thus releasing the groups ot beams so that they assume a position solliewhat like that shown in Fig. 2. As soon as the catches 9 are released the windlass 12 is unclutched from the motor. The windlass 17 is then clutched to the shaft driven by the motor and thereby rotated so as to pull on the rope 16. As the windlass 17 is turned, the rope will move out of the collapsible tube 19, under tension, as shown in Fig. 2, tending to bring the beams together into a vertical position and finally tying them together as illustrated in Fig. 3, whereupon the windlass 17 is unclutched and braked. The shaft 25 is then connected to `the motor 32 through the gearing and its 'continually under control as it is unrolled` that is, it cannot unroll any faster than the ropes 21 permit it to unroll, and the portions ot the ropes 21 that are paid out depend on the portions of the ropes 26 that are pulled in. As the ropes 26 are wound up to lower the sheet member, these ropes are pulled out of the collapsible tubes or links in the beams. Figs. 3 and 4 show the sheet member as it is being lowered. and Fig. 5 shows it completely lowered. lVlien it reaches this position, the ropes 26 fasten the sheet member to the beam 1, whereupon the shaft 25 is stopped and braked, thus stopping and braking the windlasses 22 and S27. In order to tie the mat, as a whole, to

CIK

the cables 29 and then the chains QSare pulled in so that the cables 29 break the i collapsible links 30` and finally firmly fasten the mat to the side of the Vessel With the `lower section of the sheet member extending to the `bottom thereof as illustrated in big. G. i rlheinat noir` completely covers the hole, and the water which has rushed 'into that the sheet member unfolds `Without being interfered with by the pressure of the Water rushing into the hole. lf thepressure onboth sides of themat is balanced, that is, if the coinpartmentin which a hole has been made is filled with `Water., it is prefer'- able to immediately tie the beams l to the side of the vessel by means of chains or ropes engaging 'the ends of the beams and "going around the hull of the Vessel, in a Way similar to` that of the ropes 29 and the chains 28. i i

l desire it to beunderstood that ll aim in `the appended claims to cover all modii'ications which `do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure 1 by Letters Patent ofthe UnitedStates, is

l. A breach mat comprising a plurality of beams normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member normallyrolled up, means for releasing said `beams so that they `may moire `into a Tvertical position, and

means for releasing said sheet member so that it may `unroll over said beams. y

2.` A breach matcomprising a plurality of `beams normally held in a horizontalposition, a sheet member normally rolled up, means for releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unrolloversaid beams and means for` tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been uniolled.

2B. A. breach mat comprising a plurality of beams normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasiiigsaid beams so that they may `more into a Vertical position,

"and means for releasingsaid slieetmeinber so that it may unroll over said beams.`

d. A breach mat comprising a plurality of beams normally held inta horizontal position, a sheet member normally rolled up and provided With horizontal reinforcing niem- Ibers, means for releasing` said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over `said beams, and

"means for tyingsaid sheet member to said beams aftersaid sheet member has been unrolled. i

beams.

6. A breach mat comprising a plurality of beams normally held n a horizontal position, a sheet member normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said beams so thatfthey may move into a Vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member so that it `may unroll over said beams, and

Ameans for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled, said tying means being continually under tension as said sheet member is tied to said beams.

7. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member and normally rolled up, means for releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position andmeans for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams.

`8; A breach mat comprising` a member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member and normally rolled up, means for releasing said beams so that they may move into a Vertical position, and means for releasing` said sheet member so that it may unroll oversaidbeams, and means for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled.

9. 1li breach mat comprisinga member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member `supported by said firstinentioiied member and normally rolled up,

. means `for releasing said beams so that they i tying means being continually under tension as vsaid sheet member is tied to said beams.

4 10. A breachmat comprising,` a member, a plurality of beams piroted to said member and normally heldin a horizontal position,

a sheet member supported by said firstmentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said beams so that lll() they may move to a vertical position, and means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams.

ll. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet Vmember supported by said lirst-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing` said beams so that they may move to a vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member so thatrit may unroll Vover said beams, means for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled.

12.@Awbreach mat comprising a member, a plurality ot beams pivoted to said member and normally held in horizontal position, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided Vith horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said beams so that they may move to a vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, and means for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled, said tying means being under tension as said sheet member is tied to said beams.

'13. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of 'beams piyoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group ot beams being normally held in a horizontal position, vthe beams of adjacent groups extending in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member and normally rolled up, means for releasing said'leams so that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging' adjacent groups of beams for tying said groups of beams'togeth'er in the vertical position and means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams.

let. A breach mat comprising a member, a. plurality of beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in cach group being linked together, each group of `beams being normally held in a horizontal position, thel beams of adjacent groups extending in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member and normally rolled up, means for releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging adjacent groups of beams for tying said groups of beams together i the vertical position, means for releasing said sheet member, so that it may unroll over said beams, and means tor tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member Ahas been unrolled.

15. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group ol' beams being normally held in a horizontal position, the beams of adjacent groups cxtending in opposite directions ilroni their pivots, a sheet member supported by said Vlirst-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means tor releasing said beams so 'that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging' adjacent groups ot beams tor tying said groups of beams together in a vertical position, and means for releasing said sheet member so that it may uproll over said beams.

lo. breach mat comprising a member, a plurality or beams pivotcd to said membei and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group ol: beams being normally held in a horizontal position, the beams oic adjacent groups extending` in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported b v said first-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcingr members, means ior releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging adjacent groups ol beams tor tying said groups of beams together in Ythe vertical position` means i'or releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beam, and means ior tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled.

1T. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of b x,ams pivoted. to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group ol1 li being normally held in a horizontal i, i tion, the beams of adjacent groups extending in opposite directions vfrom their pivots, a sheet member supported b v said First-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said beams so that they may more into a vertical position, means engaging adjacent groups olI beams 'for tying said beams together in the, vertical tion, said lust-mentioned means beingr under tension as it moves to tie said groups ol beams together, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, and means for tying said sheet member to said beams.

i8. A breach mat comprising a member, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together. cach group of beams being normally held in a horizontal position, the beams of adjacent groups extending in opposite directions from heir pivots, a sheet member supported by said lirstanentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said lll raamt/i being'iinder tensiones said sheet member is tied to said beams.

).""ll'1e` combination ivith a vessel, olf" a breach `mat comprising' a member mounted tor movement along); the sideo't' seid vessel, a plu 'ality ot beams pivoted "to said inem bei' and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member supported lay/"said lirst-iiientioned member, normally rolled np and provided with horizontal reinforcing" members, means` ilor releasiiip; said beams so that they may move into a vertical position,

and meins :lor releasingv said sheet member so that it may unroll over` said beams.

20. The combination with a vessel, ol a breach mat comprising' a member mounted for movement along the side of said vessel, a plurality of beams pivoted to said niember and normally held in a horizontal posi' tion, a sheet member supported by said lirstmentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing mehr hers, means tor releasing said beams so that i they may move to a vertical position, means tor releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over sai d. beams, and means :tor tying' said mat to the side ott said vessel.

Q1. rlhe combination with a vessel, oit a breach ,mat con'ipnisinna member mounted 'for movement alonir the side oit said ve, sel,

a plurality oE beams pivoted to said member and normally held in a horizontal position, a sheet member supported by said `lirsti mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing' members, means for releasing said beams so that they may nieve into a vei'tical position, means for releasing' said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, said sheet member extending' below the ends ot said beams, and means tor tying;` said mat to 'the side oit said vessel.

22. 'llhe combination with a vessel, ott a breach mat comprising; a member mounted ttor movement along` the side ot said. vessel, aplurality otbeams pivoted to said meniberand normally held in a horizontal posif tion, a sheet member supported by said iirst- `mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing,I inemv bers, means igor releasing,r said beams so that they may move into a vertical positiomand means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, and means fortying said sheet member to said beams al'ter` said sheet member has been unrolled, said sheet member extending belovv the ends ot said beams, and means tor tying; said mat to the side ol said vessel.

23j rlhe combination with a vessel, eta breach mat coiiiiprising a member mounted ttor movement along' the side oit said vessel, a pluralityr ol beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each `group being liiilred together, each group ot' beams being normally heldin a horizontal position, the beams of `adjacent groups extending` in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported by said :lirstsnientioiied member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing' iiienibers, means 'toi' releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging adjacent groups of beams lier tyingl said gri'oiips ot beams together in` a vertical j iositom means ior releasing,` said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, and means :tor tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled.

2d. 'lfhe combination with a vessel, ot a breach mat comprising a member mounted for movement along the side of said vessel, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group oi." beamsl being normally held in a horizontal position, thebeams ot adjacent groups eX- tending in opposite directions trom their pivots, a sheet member supported by said lirst-n"tcntioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means :tor releasing said beams so that tl'iey may move into a vertical position, means engagingadj acont groups ot' beams tor tying' said groups et beams together in a vertical position, means for releasing` said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, means ttor tying said sheet member 'to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled, said sheet member en tending belovv the ends oi said beams, and means for tying` said mat to the side et said vessel.

25. 'lllhe combination with a vessel, ot a breach mat comprising a member mounted vfor movement along' the side ot said vessel, a plurality et beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group being linked together, each group oit beams being normally held in a horizontal position, the beams ol. adjacent groups extending in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported by said tiret-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided With horizontal reiiit'orcing;i members, means tor releasing' said beams so that they may move into a vertical position,

means engaging adjacent groups ot beams tor tying1 said beams together in the vertical position, said last-mentioned means being under tension as it moves to tie said groups of beams together, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, and means for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled, said tying means being under tension as said sheet member is tied to said beams.

26; The combination With a vessel, of a breach mat comprising a member mounted for movement along the side of said vessel, a plurality of beams pivoted to said member and arranged in groups, said beams in each group ybeing linked together, each group of beams being normally held in a horizontal position, the beams of adjacent groups extending in opposite directions from their pivots, a sheet member supported by said first-mentioned member, normally rolled up and provided with horizontal reinforcing members, means for releasing said beams so that they may move into a vertical position, means engaging adjacent groups of beams for tying said beams together in the vertical position, said last-mentioned means being under tension as it moves to tie said groups of beams together, means for releasing said sheet member so that it may unroll over said beams, means for tying said sheet member to said beams after said sheet member has been unrolled, said tying means being under tension as said sheet member is tied to said beams, said sheet member extending below the ends of said beams, and means for tying said mat to the side of said Vessel.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this Qath day of May, 1918.

JOHN R. HEWETT. 

